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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
So I went to get my car smogged yesterday (test only) and turns out my car is a PIMP and ran good for the 10 min. I needed it to and passed with very good numbers.

Anyway I had my timing set at about 12 deg with my timing light...reading on my smog cert. says it was at 7!! I trust his light more than mine of course but could my light really be off THAT much? I mean 5 deg. is a lot isn't it? What is a GOOD light to get...I mean how do I know I have a good light?

Guy even said to boost my timing some if I want more power lol...I was thinking ummm its at 12 but when I got home the sheet said 7.

On a side note...car ran like shit this morning but at least I have two more years to figure it out. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by rocjunkie (Member # 5826) on :
 
You have to set initial timing with the plug (usually a little black one) next to the distributor plug pulled out. If the smog tech didn't do this then his timing reading was prob. off. If your motor is stock your timing should be between 10-12deg.. If you have mods like bigger injectors or mass air then typically you can even advance it 3-7 more degrees (as much as 17 deg. or so) but you only want to do that with mods. If you can hear your motor ping at higher rpm's when you adjust it up you went too far and should turn it back a few. It also depends on which octane you run. Up to 92 octane then more timing will lessen the pinging.
 
Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
Spout was pulled during the timing test and I always pull the spout when adjusting it.
 
Posted by Quick 88LX (Member # 1950) on :
 
Does your timing gun have an adjustment knob on it?

Mine does and I remember getting so wacked out timing numbers when I accidentally turned the knob. Didn't notice at first but when I looked at my gun, it was way off. Turned it back to zero and I was good to go.
 
Posted by NO MANRZ (Member # 566) on :
 
Most smog guys don't really check the timing, they just pretend to just to make sure it's in the ball park, especially if you haven't marked off 10 degrees on your balancer so it's hard to see or read. They just type in a value into the computer they know will pass.
 
Posted by FasterDamnit (Member # 442) on :
 
Yup.
I was failed for having 14* timing on my 5.0 when I had set it at 10* just before going to the shop (test only). I went home and checked it again, and got 10*. I took it back, made him check the timing while I watched, and he fumbled w/ his dial-back light til he said, "Huh, looks like 10*."
 
Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
Thanks for the info...

No I have no dial on my gun so it must be a cheapo. I don't know what kind of guy the tech guy had but I do know he was trying his hardest to get the excact reading.

Dude was extreemly anal about the whole thing. I don't think he was going out of his way to fail me though, just covering his ass I guess.
 




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